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The Teachings of Jesus – An Introduction to 2014c lessons

The Divine Teacher

Most of us probably remember a great teacher who made an impact on our lives, whom we admired and appreciated. Some teachers transcend their own times and continue to influence subsequent generations. Outstanding teachers have decisively impacted life and thought and are often universally recognized. Jesus, of course, was the greatest Teacher of all.

Courtesy of CG Sabbath School Department

His contemporaries acknowledged Him as a Teacher, for He exhibited the general characteristics of a first-century rabbi. As was the practice, He would sit down to teach. He often quoted the Scriptures and then commented on them. Finally, Jesus had a group of disciples who attentively listened to His words and followed and served Him. These were the basic attributes of teachers in His time and place.

Fundamental differences between Jesus and the other teachers, however, did exist. While the latter concentrated mostly on the intellectual aspects of a subject, Jesus addressed the whole being of His audience and invited them to make a decision in favor of God. Besides, those who heard Jesus were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes (Mark 1:22, NKJV). Christ’s authority gained credibility by the fact that He practiced what He taught. But above all, the source of His authority was His own Person. He taught the truth, because He is the Truth. As God incarnated, He said, Thus says the Lord, yet would then later add but I say to you.

This quarter we will study some of the main teachings of Jesus, as recorded in the Gospels. Our Savior taught many things pertaining to our spiritual and practical lives. He presented His teachings to different audiences, being careful to adapt His method to each person. Sometimes He preached a sermon; other times He dialogued with individuals or with groups. Sometimes He spoke openly; other times He had to conceal the meaning of His words. In every case, however, He taught truth about God and salvation.

There could be many ways to organize and expound the teachings of Jesus. It would be possible, for example, to study His parables or to analyze His various sermons. Another approach would be to consider His dialogues with individuals or groups and His discussions with His opponents. Likewise, it would be interesting to focus on His deeds, His attitudes, and His miracles, which were ways He also used to teach important lessons. Each approach would be fruitful, but in order to grasp a comprehensive picture of Jesus’ teachings, this quarter’s lesson study will combine several approaches. It will come at His teachings more systematically, gathering how Jesus taught particular topics on different occasions and in different ways, which will give us a good understanding of most of His teachings.

When we open the Scriptures this quarter and read Jesus’ words, let us picture ourselves among His attentive listeners at the mountainside, by the sea, or in the synagogue. Let us pray for spiritual discernment to understand His message and to grasp His unfathomable love manifested on the cross. And as we hear His tender voice calling us to follow Him, let us renew our commitment to walk daily with Him by faith and in obedience. The more we spend time at His feet, the more we will say, as did the two disciples who were on their way to Emmaus: ‘Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us . . . and while He opened the Scriptures to us? (Luke 24:32, NKJV).

Carlos A. Steger has worked as a pastor, teacher, editor, and administrator. Currently he is the Dean of the School of Theology at River Plate Adventist University. He and his wife Ethel have three children and three grandchildren.

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The Teachings of Jesus – An Introduction to 2014c lessons — 13 Comments

I have this conviction, the past quarters knowledge if carried and combined with 3rd quarter's facts we will get home soon.thanks the serving general conference members.christ and christ's method alone

Jesus and Jesus alone. He is the One and only teacher who will last through to the end. Not Buddha, or Mohammed, or Krishna.
Jesus the eternal One is now again drawing us to His feet, to renew our commitment to hear again, how He decides to give His life to save us.

Jesus being the greatest teacher the world has ever experienced, none of his audience ever dosed during his lecturers, or shouted that the allocated time/period e.g. 50 minutes are over so that they either get break or go to attend other teachers. His class constituted the ilitrrate, literate and experts

When He came down to earth, it was to identify with the human race and help us to understand that by accepting Him, we could become sons and daughters of God and His spiritual brothers and sisters, which included being an heir to the Kingdom of Heaven through His promises to us. To help us understand this relationship, He referred to His Father as "our" Father. What Love He gives us, by including us in His family!

yes He did call Him 'our father', because that is what He is. I am a Child of God and Christ-apart from being my savior-gave me the right to become a child of God! And that is what we are. So Christ is the first fruit and the rest of us who believe join together with Him to be sons and daughters of the most high

I absolutely LOVE the last paragraph! I just keep reading it over and over! How AWESOME it would have been to be a listener at His feet! I am so excited about this SS quarter! I fully agree with Wellington that combining the knowledge of the law from last quarter with the insight into Jesus's teachings and applying it to our lives will have a huge impact on the church and our ministry! Praise Jesus!

It with great hope that this lesson will touch our lives,that is is we take what the writer is saying "Let us be those disples sitting by the river listening to juses's teachings.
wow! this is a blessing

I thank the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, that I though born of a sinful nature, by faith I can understand the purity of His love that pervades across the world as His children study the Bible, some lead, hearts growing in grace and he hnesty in His word, his word of Truth keeps binds me to Him and no other. I long to see Jesus face to face and all that have responded to His unconditional love, all that have been forgiven of Him and took it seroiusly, oh yes but before then I long to live His life,AMEN!

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